The 10 Best Frankie Knuckles Tracks of All Time

There are some people whose careers in music birth new genres that ultimately change music history forever. Frankie Knuckles is one of those people. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., before moving to Chicago, where he’d eventually become a DJ and create a legacy as the “Godfather of House Music,” Knuckles began DJing while studying textile design in college. After relocating, he got a residency at the Warehouse club when it opened in 1977. There, he would play a unique mix of disco, indie soul, and rock that attracted a devout following. Eventually, demand for his sound spread enough that fans started referring to the music he played at the Warehouse simply as “House Music.” In 1982, he opened his own club in Chicago, the Power Plant, and began what would be an illustrious career in producing and remixing.

In March 2014, the world sadly lost Frankie Knuckles. In his lifetime, he’d been inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame, and in 1997, he won the inaugural Grammy award for Remixer of the Year. In August 2004, Chicago named the street where the former Warehouse club was located “Frankie Knuckles Way.”

To celebrate his immense contributions to music, here are The 10 Best Frankie Knuckles Tracks of All Time.

Frankie Knuckles Presents Jamie Principle “Your Love” (1984)

While playing at the Power Plant, Knuckles met the artist Jamie Principle and began producing for him. Perhaps the most famous of their collaborations is “Your Love,” which they made on a four-track in the DJ booth; it became almost immediately ubiquitous in Chicago nightlife (even before its official release). To this day, “Your Love” is considered a foundational song for house music, and it became a hit in the UK when sampled by Candi Staton for her song, “You Got the Love.”

Frankie Knuckles “The Whistle Song” (1991)

“The Whistle Song” is a standout record from Knuckles’ debut album,Beyond the Mix. It’s his fifth highest-ranking song on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and was No. 1 during its first week out. Knuckles put a clever twist on his 1991 remix of Lisa Stanfield’s “Change” by using parts of “The Whistle Song.”

Frankie Knuckles Presents Jamie Principle “Baby Wants to Ride” (1987)

For “Baby Wants to Ride,” Knuckles worked with Jamie Principle again for a more pared down, poignant song than “Your Love.” It was played in clubs for over a year before being released on Trax Records, a label started by Larry Sherman and Screamin’ Rachael in Chicago.

Frankie Knuckles Presents Satoshi Tomiie “Tears” (1989)

Knuckles collaborated with singer Robert Owens and producer Satoshi Tomiie on “Tears,” marking a new moment in his musical output—it was an instant hit both in America and in the UK. It’s an overall glossier, more refined production than his previous releases, but it was well-received nonetheless.

Frankie Knuckles f/ Nicki Richards “Keep on Movin’” (2001)

“Keep on Movin” features vocals from Nicki Richards and came out during the peak of Knuckles’ remix work for other artists, including Michael Jackson. It’s tropical, bouncy, and has stood the test of time as one of his most essential songs.

Frankie Knuckles f/ Roberta Gilliam “Workout” (1991)

Knuckles worked with Roberta Gilliam on “Workout,” a track that exemplifies his sound in the early ’90s. It’s a later track from his debut album, Beyond the Mix, released by Virgin Records.

Michael Jackson “Rock With You (Frankie Knuckles Remix)” (1995)

Knuckles’ remix of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” is one of his most classic remixes, taking the smooth pop song and making it even more danceable than it already was. Knuckles also applied his house music magic to Jackson’s “Scream,” “Thriller,” and “You Are Not Alone.”

Hercules and Love Affair “Blind (Frankie Knuckles Mix)” (2007)

Knuckles’ remix of Hercules and Love Affair’s “Blind” seemed to come out of nowhere, as he hadn’t been producing much in the years before its release. Though people from Hercules’ label, DFA, felt that it was a risk to work with Knuckles, they were overwhelmingly pleased with what he turned in. “Blind” proves that Knuckles’ work is timeless and that his ability to transform a song stayed with him throughout his lifetime.

Knuckles gave the already incredible “Ain’t Nobody” a dub remix, which he titled a “hallucinogenic version,” six years after the song originally came out. The remix is a great example of Knuckles’ mastery of keyboard and bass, and it topped the charts upon release.

The Night Writers “Let the Music (Use You)” (1987)

Knuckles produced “Let the Music (Use You)” for the Night Writers, and though it came out in 1987, it’s a great example of a song that would sound equally fresh if it came out today. The perfect balance of bass, keys, and vocals provides a mystique that seemingly only Knuckles and his production sensibilities could provide.